Investigating Key Factors Influencing Malaysian Architects' Use of Glue-Laminated Timber

Abstract

Glue-laminated timber (GLT) and closely related cross-laminated timber (CLT) represent a technological shift that has brought about new possibilities for architects to employ as part of their design toolkits. In temperate climate zones and industrial countries, GLT and CLT have seen a recent surge in their application. Its popularity has increased in response to favourable changes in building regulations and due to the increasing importance of certifiable sustainability in the built environment. In Malaysia, the adoption of GLT has been very limited to date. This study examines which factors influence Malaysian architects with regard to the use of GLT/CLT as a building material. From the Malaysian architects surveyed for this research, it is evident that there is a significant interest in using GLT and CLT in future projects. Most respondents stated that they had previously considered using GLT and/or CLT but abandoned the idea due to the absence of local supply and the resulting high cost of importing GLT/CLT.